Vehicle seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat having a seat part and a backrest that can be inclined relative to the seat part to allow transfer between an in-use position and a stowed position includes structure that causes the length of the backrest to change during the transfer. In a particular embodiment, the length of the backrest is greater in the in-use position than in the stowed position to provide satisfactory comfort and safety to an occupant seated in the vehicle seat when it is in the in-use position and to provide a compact arrangement in the stowed position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle seat having a seat part and a backrest assembly, inclination of the backrest assembly relative to the seat part ( 2 ) being adjustable between an in-use position and a stowed position wherein the backrest assembly includes a backrest member slidably movable relative to a slide guide, the slide guide and the backrest member each being rotatable relative to respective axes that are translationally displaced, and wherein the backrest member and the slide guide are joined to the seat part so that the translational displacement of the axes decreases during adjustment from the in-use position to the stowed position, whereby the length of the backrest assembly decreases during the adjustment, and, further comprising two members that are each pivotally connected at one end to the seat part and pivotally connected at another end to the slide guide. 
     
     
       2. The vehicle seat of  claim 1 , wherein the backrest is mounted rotatably on at least one lever arranged displaceably on the seat part. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle seat of  claim 1 , wherein the guide is spring biased. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle seat of  claim 1 , further comprising an end stop for limiting rotation of the guide, the end stop being arranged on the member. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle seat as claimed in one of  claim 1  or  4 , characterized in that a spring is arranged between the seat part and the member. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle seat of  claim 1  further comprising a slotted guide having first and second openings; and a fixing device on the backrest member. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle seat of  claim 6  further comprising a projection arranged on the lever which projection cooperates with the first and second openings in the slotted guide. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle seat of  claim 2  wherein the lever is curvilinear-shaped. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle seat of  claim 2  wherein the lever substantially covers the member during movement of the backrest from the in-use position to the stowage position. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle seat of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle seat is for use in a row of seats including a second seat having a second backrest; and the backrest is adjustable in inclination about an axis of rotation which corresponds to an axis of rotation of the second backrest of the second seat. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle seat of  claim 10  wherein the backrest of the vehicle seat is locked to the second backrest of the second seat in the in-use position. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle seat of  claim 10  wherein when the vehicle seat is in the stowage position and the backrest length is shortened, the vehicle seat can be stowed under the seat part of the second seat part.